Recently, in my life, there have been distractions, and travel, and emotional upheaval. Through all of that, there has been the desire to move on to the next plane of wherever The Great Spaghetti Monster In The Sky decides to take me. But, at the heart of that has also been fear, and procrastination and that awful paralysis suffered by people stuck in the crosshairs crossroads of life.

During the distraction my friends were nowhere to be found. For the most part I didn't tell them what was going on, and we're close enough that we can maintain a solid friendship without living in each others' pockets. During the travel, I was nowhere to be found, and even if you had been able to stick me to a map with a straight pin, I would have wiggled my way free to another destination within days anyway.

But during the emotional upheaval? They stuck to me like the best kind of glue. I could shout, cry, obsess, second-guess myself, challenge them, talk with them and then demand my privacy - and they were still there. And I love them for that.

One really good thing came out of the emotional upheaval however. It was decided that it was time to get off the pot and just fucking move already. So do you know what one friend did? She spent this entire week helping me pack up my life for a final farewell from this apartment and then she accompanied me to the office today to sign the official Notice To Vacate.

She's a moving champ. I'm a moving imbecile. (Apparently you don't put neatly boxed items into another box to move them, they just travel on their own. Who knew?) She stood over me and made me throw away papers. She sat on the bed and folded all of my clothes and then cheered me on when I grudgingly found a way to part with some of them and send them to charity. She did more runs to the garbage and Goodwill with bags full of my crap than I can count and she not only helped me find boxes, she spearheaded the search, then came back to my place with me and wrapped my goods and packed them into said boxes, which she then taped up and labeled and stacked in my living room.

I will admit she's not a total paragon. When faced with my lingerie collection* she might have killed me if she'd been able to get away with it, however by then her forensic evidence was all over the apartment. And she keeps telling me I'm not allowed to buy any more food. But a girl's gotta eat, right? Through it all though, she has maintained her good humor, and patience, and willingness to kick my ass help. She even sat on my computer one night and helped me search for a new place to live while I sat on my couch and shredded my little fingers off.

If I can't find the right place to be in my new city, coincidentally, her city, she and her boyfriend are even willing to put me up while I look. And I made sure she checked with him, and then spoke with him myself to make sure I wasn't treading on toes; he's totally on board. I know a big part of that is because, even when I'm not around, she speaks well of me to him - and really, can you ask for anything more from someone?

She plans to come back and do some more in the up-coming weeks, and my orders are to keep going, even when her eagle eyes are not upon me. With her considerable help, I am feeling less daunted by the whole project. It now seems like something that can be done instead of a feat of impossibility visited upon me by the gods. It's kind of scary, but I think this might be what normal people call "optimism." I am not familiar with the concept, so someone will have to enlighten me.

And she didn't just do this because I asked for her help, she volunteered because she knows me and loves me and wanted to help. She is a goddess among friends. She is a goddess among human beings, even. I cannot thank her enough for all the work that she has done. I offered her a choice between my first and second born child, she said she'll take the first.

*I fully admit right here, right now, that I have an unhealthy fetish for pretty bras combined with matching panties. I know and love every one of my bras, and refuse to give any of them up. Last count hovered somewhere around 50 bras with at least 2 matching or near matching (in colour) panties for each bra.

3 comments:

Love to occasionally stop by your blog, and this post is spot on--that is the best kind of friend to have. One who's there for help when you need, one you can laugh with, and one who makes you clean out the closets. Best of luck to you with your move, wherever it may take you. Change is good--not always easy, but definitely good.

you will get my bras when you pry them from my cold, dead hands. Or, when I lose 80 lbs. Whichever comes first, and frankly at this rate they may both happen at the same time.

In other news, welcome to my little slice of the web. :)

Kate,

I'm reading WT V now. Hot, hot, hotness. And I really like how you've paralleled the stories of the old guard and the younger fellow. I also really liked your twist on the classic beauty and the beast tale.

Books Read in 2011

January - April

1. Powerful Italian, Penniless Housekeeper by India Grey2. Servant: the Acceptance by L.L. Foster3. Scandal: His Majesty's Love Child by Annie West4. Truly, Madly, Viking by Sandra Hill5. All Over You by Sarah Mayberry6. Having The Doctor's Baby by Theresa Southwick7. Private Demon by Lynn Viehl8. Hot For Him by Sarah Mayberry9. Lion's Heat by Lora Leigh10. Stranger by Megan Hart11. No Mercy by Sherillyn Kenyon12. Saturday Mornings by Peggy Webb13. Dark Needs by Lynn Viehl14. Jacob by Jacquelyn Frank15. Beguiled by Lori Foster16. With a Stetson and a Smile by Vicki Lewis Thompson17. Shakespeare's Landlord by Charlaine Harris18. Branded By Fire by Nalini Singh19. Blaze of Memory by Nalini Singh20. Not in My Bed! by Kate Hoffman21. Shakespeare's Champion by Charlaine Harris22. Night Lost by Lynn Viehl23. I is For Innocent by Sue Grafton24. WIFE is a Four Letter Word by Stephanie Bond25. Silver Borne by Patricia Briggs26. Home is for the Holidays by Sarah Mayberry27. Purity In Death by J.D. Robb28. Shakespeare's Christmas by Charlaine Harris29. Leave It To Cleavage by Wendy Wax30. Beyond Forever by Debra Dier31. Strange Bedpersons by Jennifer Crusie32. Servant: The Kindred by L.L. Foster33. Desire Unchained by Larissa Ione34. Breakfast in Bed by Robin Kaye35. J is for Judgment by Sue Grafton36. Evermore by Lynn Viehl37. Twilight Fall by Lynn Viehl38. Stay the Night by Lynn Viehl39. Lover Mine by J.R. Ward

48. Wild Fire by Christine Feehan49. Heartquake by Diane Pershing50. Beyond the Night by Susan Squires51. Shakespeare's Counselor by Charlaine Harris52. With Extreme Pleasure by Alison Kent53. Game For Anything by Bella Andre54. The Doctor's Forever Family by Marie Ferrarella55. The Comeback Cowboy by Cathy McDavid56. Smokin' Seventeen by Janet Evanovich57. Passion Unleashed by Larissa Ione58. Angel's Blood by Nalini Singh59. Wicked Deeds on a Winter's Night by Kresley Cole60. Mountain Wild by Stacy Kane61. A Randall Hero by Judy Christenberry62. Shut Up & Kiss Me by Christie Craig63. Life of Pi by Yann Martel64. Mr Unforgettable by Karina Bliss65. Pillars of The Earth by Ken Follett66. Taken by Midnight by Lara Adrian67. Archangel's Kiss by Nalini Singh68. K is for Killer by Sue Grafton

75. Understood by Maya Banks76. Crazy Emma by Brandie Buckwine77. Cry Wolf by Patricia Briggs78. Maid for the Billionaire by Ruth Cardello79. Night of the Living Deed by EJ Copperman80. Down In Texas by Delilah Devlin81. Baby Bonanza by Maureen Child82. Too Much Temptation by Lori Foster83. Yours for the Taking by Robin Kaye84. Lover Unleashed by J. R. Ward85. Raine by Elizabeth Amber86. When You Dare by Lori Foster

Books Read in 2010

January

1. Wild Card by Lora Leigh2. Wolf Tales VI by Kate Douglas3. From Dead To Worse by Charlaine Harris4. Her Colorado Man by Cheryl St John5. Some Like It Hot-Buttered by Jeff Cohen6. Sins Of The Night by Sherrilyn Kenyon7. Blood Bound by Patricia Briggs8. Now & Then by Jacqueline Sheehan9. Loyalty In Death by J. D. Robb10. Undead and Unworthy by MaryJanice Davidson11. Sweet Discipline by Bonnie Hamre12. Break by Hannah Moskowitz13. Unleash the Night by Sherrilyn Kenyon

February

14. The Mistake She Made by Linda Style15. With Extreme Pleasure by Alison Kent16. Wolf Tales VII by Kate Douglas17. Dark Side of the Moon by Sherrilyn Kenyon18. Divorced, Desperate & Dating by Christie Craig19. The Dream-Hunter by Sherrilyn Kenyon20. Caitlyn's Prize by Linda Warren21. Healing Luke by Beth Cornelison22. The Groom Wore Tulle by Lynn Kurland23. Conyn's Bride by Ingrid Weaver24. The Screwed Up Life of Charlie The Second by Drew Ferguson25. Baby In Her Arms by Stella Mclean26. Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles27. Witness in Death by JD Robb

March

27. Simon Says Mommy by Kay Stockham28. Devil May Cry by Sherrliyn Kenyon29. He Calls Her Doc by Mary Brady30. Her Best Bet by Pamela Ford31. Jude's Law by Lori Foster

April

32. G is For Gumshoe by Sue Grafton33. Six by Opal Carew34. Milk Bitch Trilogy by Frances Gaines Bennett35. Judgment in Death by JD Robb36. Dead and Gone by Charlaine Harris37. It Happened One Knife by Jeffrey Cohen

May

38. Iron-Kissed by Patricia Briggs39. She's Got It Bad by Sarah Mayberry40. The Desert King's Housekeeper Bride by Carol Marinelli41. Upon The Midnight Clear by Sherilynn Kenyon42. Only Pleasure by Lora Leigh43. Betrayal In Death by JD Robb

50. Divorced, Desperate and Deceived by Christie Craig51. Dead In the Family by Charlaine Harris52. Seduction in Death by JD Robb53. Love at First Flight by Marie Force54. Bone-Crossed by Patricia Briggs55. Playboy Boss, Live-In Mistress by Kelly Hunter56. Undead and Unwelcome by MaryJanice Davidson57. Flat-Out Sexy by Erin McCarthy

August- December

58. Lover Mine by J.D. Ward59. The Greek's Pregnant Love by Lucy Monroe60. A Piece of Heaven by Barbara Samuel61. Hard and Fast by Erin McCarthy62. Lightning that Lingers by Laura London63. Dream Chaser by Sherrilyn Kenyon64. Sizzling Sixteen by Janet Evanovich65. Wolf Tales VIII by Kate Douglas66. Ashes of Midnight by Lara Adrian67. Magnate's Mistress ... Accidentally Pregnant by Kimberly Lang68. Hot Finish by Erin McCarthy69. Reunion in Death by J.D. Robb70. Greek Tycoon, Waitress Wife by Julia James71. Dark Needs at Night's Edge by Kresley Cole72. Crazy For You by Jennifer Crusie73. Blade's Lady by Fiona Brand74. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows75. Marchese's Forgotten Bride by Michelle Reid76. Powerful Italian, Penniless Housekeeper by India Grey77. Servant: The Acceptance by L.L. Foster78. Scandal: His Majesty's Love Child by Annie West79. Maybe This Time by Jennifer Crusie80. Emily and the Notorious Prince by India Grey81. Naughty Nights at the Millionaire's Mansion by Robyn Grady82. Romeo, Romeo by Robin Kaye83. Demonfire by Kate Douglas84. Coulter's Woman by Maya Banks85. The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger86. Shades of Midnight by Lara Adrian87. If Angels Burn by Lynn Veihl88. Heart of the Wolf by Terry Spears89. Crave by J.R. Ward90. What the Librarian Did by Karina Bliss91. H is For Homicide by Sue Grafton92. Their One and Only by Trista Ann Michaels93. Take On Me by Sarah Mayberry94. The Undomestic Goddess by Sophie Kinsella

12. Dirty by Megan Hart
13. Playing Easy To Get by Sherrilyn Kenyon et al
14. Tell Me Lies by Jennifer Crusie
15. Menage by Emma Holly
16. Tale of Two Vikings by Sandra Hill
17. Dreams From My Father by Barak Obama
18. Tanner's Scheme by Lora Leigh
19. The Bride With No Name by Marie Ferrarella
20. Looking For Alaska by John Greene
21. Rapture In Death by J.D. Robb

76. C is For Corpse by Sue Grafton
77. Talk Me Down by Victoria Dahl
78. The Watson Brothers by Lori Foster
79. Wild Rain by Christine Feehan
80. Club Dead by Charlaine Harris
81. Rescued By the Sheik by Barbara McMahon
82. Fire & Ice by Anne Stuart
83. Gone With the Nerd by Vicki Lewis Thompson
84. Nauti Dreams by Lora Leigh
85. A Hunger Like No Other by Kresley Cole
86. Family Blessings by LaVyrle Spencer
87. Gotcha! by Christie Craig
88. Deeper by Megan Hart
89. Dead To The World by Charlaine Harris

July

90. A Weaver Wedding by Allison Leigh
91. The Family He Wanted by Karen Sandler
92. A Night At The Operation by Jeffrey Cohen
93. Naughty Little Secret by Shelley Bradley
94. Burning Wild by Christine Feehan
95. Undead and Unreturnable by MaryJanice Davidson
96. Vengeance In Death by J.D. Robb
97. This Pen For Hire by Laura Levine
98. The Bachelor's Stand-In Wife by Susan Crosby
99. Agnes and The Hitman by Jennifer Crusie & Bob Mayer
100. Smooth Talkin' Stranger by Lisa Kleypas

YAY! I've read one hundred books this year!

August

101. Tempting The Beast by Lora Leigh
102. D is for Deadbeat by Sue Grafton
103. Legend by Jude Devereaux
104. Dad in Disguise by Kate Little
105. No Rest For The Wicked by Kresley Cole
106. Mother In The Making by Lilian Darcy
107. Practice Makes Perfect by Julie James
108. The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
109. Dead As A Doornail by Charlaine Harris
110. Finger Lickin' Fifteen by Janet Evanovich
111. Bet Me by Jennifer Crusie
112. Nice Girls Don't have Fangs by Molly Harper
113. A Not-So-Perfect-Past by Beth Andrews
114. Wolf Tales V by Kate Douglas
115. To Have And To Hold by Patricia Gaffney

That's it. 174 books read in 2009. Some were fantastic, some were average. A few were so bad they didn't even make the list because I couldn't finish them. I doubt I'll read as many in 2010. I plan on not having as much free time :-)